Historic pub The Grapes in Oxford is about to reopen after staying closed for about two years.

The hostelry in George Street shut suddenly at the end of 2021 but is now due to reopen in a week's time after a London-based pub company stepped in to take it over.

The pub, which dates back to the 1800s, closed in December 2021 after the West Berkshire Brewery running it went into administration, and a note was placed on the door saying it would not be reopening.

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Now contractors at the pub have said they have been asked to finish their work in time for the pub to reopen on Thursday.

Dave Richardson, of the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), said he was delighted to hear the news.

Oxford Mail: The Grapes in George Street

He said the pub's new landlord Johnny Roberts had told him the pub would reopen on Thursday.

Mr Richardson added: "Everything seems to be on schedule - I'm confident the pub will reopen on Thursday.

"We are very confident in the pub company taking over and I think The Grapes is going to be a success.

"It will provide a good range of beers - both cask and keg, serve simple food and have a turntable so they can play vinyl records.

"It will be a distinctive and very welcome addition to the pub scene and we wish them all the best for the future."

Mr Richardson described The Grapes as 'quirky' pub and said it was a contrast to 'big barns' serving drinks nearby.

Oxford Mail:

"The Grapes could not be in better hands - I would not like to see it go to a big pub company," he added.

"The Grapes is a rare survivor from a distant age and is a haven of English tradition and quirkiness - this is really good news."

The Grapes is now being run by a pub company running 16 real ale pubs in and around London including the Lyric in Soho, the Express Tavern at Kew Bridge, the Magdala in Hampstead and the Corner House in Windsor.

Oxford Mail:

The group’s pubs are operated by various companies including Twickenham Green Taverns, and boss Dick Morgan confirmed earlier that a deal with the building's owner, the city council, had been signed.

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Mr Roberts was previously assistant manager at Wetherspoon’s Four Candles before moving to the White House in Bladon when it reopened as a community-owned pub.

This pub was established by 1808 and may originally have been called the Bunch of Grapes.

It was rebuilt in its present form in about 1894 and and once had 'swinging front doors likened to a Wild West saloon'.

Bath Ales were in charge in 2012 and revamped the pub.

It was renamed Beerd Oxford in 2015.

And then its name reverted back to The Grapes by August 2017 when it was given a refurbishment, and theatre photos and memorabilia were removed from the walls.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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